Many tombstone props include animated motion (for example, moving skeletons or crawling zombie babies), glowing red LED eyes, and haunted sound effects. Several models are sound- or touch-activated so the lights and noises trigger when someone approaches or interacts with them.
Lighted pathway tombstones typically include ground stakes or stake bases for installation, end-to-end connectors for stringing multiple markers, and a lead cord with a plug for power.
Common materials include polyester fabric (used for inflatables and fabric props — including some recycled-polyester options), various plastics for lighted pathway markers, and styrofoam for some decorative tombstones.
Most require light assembly: inserting ground stakes or bases and plugging in a power cord. Inflatables also need inflation and anchoring with stakes, ropes, or sandbags. Many products note “adult assembly required” but usually no special tools are needed.
Lighting options range from simple steady-on markers to battery-powered decorations with built-in timers. Some lighted markers offer a single constant setting, while certain battery-powered tombstones include timers (for example, 6 hours on / 18 hours off).
Requirements vary by model: many animated figures use AA or AAA batteries, smaller battery-powered parts may use button cells such as LR44, and larger lighted tombstones or inflatables typically use household electric power rather than batteries. Some props use a combination of battery types for different features.